By Timothy Dale | Updated Jul 27, 2023 11:43 AM
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Mold is a problem that can crop up seemingly out of nowhere, though there are common areas where mold tends to recur, such as bathrooms, kitchens, attics, basements, and cellars. These areas are all prone to high levels of moisture and humidity, which promotes the growth of mold spores. While some people may be able to detect the presence of mold by scent or by sight, using a mold test kit is a much more accurate method and can provide users with detailed results so that they know what type of mold they are dealing with and how to treat the issue.
The best mold test kit for a home depends on whether users want to test the air quality or if a surface test is more appropriate. Take a look at the top products below to see examples of the various mold test kits available, then read on for more information about how to select the best mold test kit to test for the presence of mold in a home.
When gathering our top picks for mold test kits, we looked at a range of tests on the market to provide options for each type, including tape strips, swabs, petri dishes and air pumps. We made sure that our list of recommendations has an option for every shopper and what they need.
Our research found that the time for test results can vary greatly. Therefore, we have provided a wide range of picks that satisfy on-the-spot testing where results need to be instant as well as comprehensive kits that are mailed to professional laboratories for extensive analysis, which can take up to a few weeks.
The list of top products below has been selected based on the type of mold test, the accuracy of the test, and overall quality to help shoppers find the best mold test kit to verify the presence of mold in a home.
This DIY mold test kit comes with three tape-strip mold tests and three sample containers to seal the samples for transportation to the lab where they will be tested. Use the three test strips on surfaces around the home that either are, or are close to, suspected problem areas. After taking a sample from the surface, apply it to the test board then place the entire board in a sample container, ensuring that the sample is properly labeled before sealing the container.
Then, send the samples to the lab and wait for the results. The lab fees are included in the price of the product, except for residents of Texas who will need to pay to have the sample shipped to the lab for testing. When the lab receives and inspects the samples, it will contact the user and provide both a detailed report of its findings and an expert explanation so the user knows what the results mean and how to proceed. The Mold Inspection Network website does not mention the wait period for results, but some users state that these can take up to 3 weeks after mailing samples.
Get the Mold Inspection Network mold test kit at Amazon.
This Seeml Labs mold test kit includes swab and tape strip tests, giving users the ability to test their home in more than one way with just one test kit. Gently roll the cotton swab on the surface to be tested, then place the swab into the test tube and seal it. The test strips need to be applied to the surface being tested, then removed and placed onto the test board. This traps the collected sample between the board and the strip. Place the board into the sample collection container and seal it.
After testing, the samples should be sent to the lab. There are no lab fees, though users may need to pay to mail the test kit. Once received, the lab can process the results in just 1 day, contacting the user through email with a detailed lab report and expert consultation to help understand the results and the next steps for dealing with a potential mold problem.
Get the Seeml Labs mold test kit at Amazon.
The affordable Mold Armor petri mold test kit takes just 48 hours to provide results, without the need to send away for lab testing, and includes both a swab and petri dish for surface and air testing.
Set up the petri dish to take air samples near the home’s ventilation system, or use the swab to get surface samples from common problem areas like the shower tile with this inexpensive Mold Armor mold test kit. The kit is easy to use and takes just 48 hours to see results, so users can take immediate action to keep the family safe from harmful mold instead of waiting on the postal service to deliver samples to a lab for testing.
However, if the idea of relying completely on non-professional assessment seems concerning, the manufacturer does offer the option of sending the sample to a lab for more official testing, though there is an associated fee.
Get the Mold Armor mold test kit at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Walmart (2-pack).
Get professional lab analysis and expert consultation about the results of the test, as well as a full-color laboratory report detailing the exact genus of the mold with this DIY mold test kit. The kit includes five petri dishes, each intended to test the air quality in a room of the house. They can all be used for a widespread test of the home or the user may only need to test one or two rooms, saving the other three petri dishes for retesting.
The mold test kit also includes stickers, labels, and a return shipping box to send the samples for lab testing, though there is an associated lab fee per petri dish. Some users may prefer to do a self-analysis instead of paying the fee. It takes about 5 to 7 days for the mold to develop to the point where a visual self-analysis is possible, and the plates can then be sent for professional testing if the user wants more information about the mold.
Get the ImmunoLytics mold test kit at Amazon, Walmart, or ImmunoLytics.
This mold test kit relies on the user to properly use the petri dish test in the desired living space and review the results themselves. The kit includes a downloadable mold information guide for a more simplified way to identify mold found in the home. For more complicated mold issues, you can opt for a lab test (at an additional fee).
The kit comes with 10 petri dishes to be placed around the home. Not all petri dishes need to be used, but by using more petri dishes, the results can help to track high mold content back to the source of the growth, like a bathroom or a kitchen. This kit is suitable for testing all areas of the home, including walls, showers, cars, sinks, HVAC systems, room air, as well as most physical surfaces.
Get the Evviva Sciences mold test kit at Amazon, Walmart, or Evviva Sciences.
The Healthful Home mold test kit comes with a test for Stachybotrys mold and a test for both aspergillus and penicillium mold. Just use the included all-in-one swab to swab the surface that is being tested, and then bend the bulb of the all-in-one swab to add moisture. Allow the solution to mix with the sample, then place a drop of the solution on the Stachybotrys test and a drop on the aspergillus and penicillium test. The results should appear within 5 minutes.
The Stachybotrys test will display a single line if an unhealthy amount of mold is detected in the sample, while the aspergillus and penicillium test will display two lines if unhealthy amounts of mold are found. Users also have the option to use the three included standard swabs to take additional samples and send them to the lab for confirmation with the lab request card using the postage-paid mailer.
Get the Healthful Home mold test kit at Amazon, Walmart, Menards, or Healthful Home.
Best Air Pump7 My Mold Detective Mold Test Kit Photo: amazon.com SEE IT Don’t wait on a petri dish to slowly collect a sample when the My Mold Detective mold test kit comes with an air sampling pump to take quick, 5-minute air quality samples of both indoor and outdoor locations. Just attach the air sampling pump to one of four sample cassettes and draw in nearby air and mold spores (if present). Collect the sample cassette and pack it into the included mailing envelope to send to the laboratory for testing. Test results come back in 3 business days after the sample is received by the lab, and they include color-coded lab reports, an analysis of the results, recommendations for treatment, and any additional next steps for the user. However, if the outcome of the test is needed promptly, there are options for expediting the process for a faster turnaround. Product SpecsType: Air pumpWaiting period: Within 3 business days of the lab receiving the sample, or 24 hours for express turnaround at an additional feeEase of use: Easy ProsSamples take just 5 minutes to collectProvides detailed mold concentration levelsLab results and analysis report are highly detailed ConsCan become quite pricey if sending multiple samples to the lab Get the My Mold Detective mold test kit at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, or My Mold Detective.
Don’t wait on a petri dish to slowly collect a sample when the My Mold Detective mold test kit comes with an air sampling pump to take quick, 5-minute air quality samples of both indoor and outdoor locations. Just attach the air sampling pump to one of four sample cassettes and draw in nearby air and mold spores (if present). Collect the sample cassette and pack it into the included mailing envelope to send to the laboratory for testing.
Test results come back in 3 business days after the sample is received by the lab, and they include color-coded lab reports, an analysis of the results, recommendations for treatment, and any additional next steps for the user. However, if the outcome of the test is needed promptly, there are options for expediting the process for a faster turnaround.
Get the My Mold Detective mold test kit at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, or My Mold Detective.
Don’t decide on a mold test kit without first understanding the various types of test kits, and then consider the accuracy of the test, the waiting period for results, and how easy or difficult the test kit is to use. These factors can help users decide on the best mold test kit to verify the presence of mold in a home.
An in-home mold testing kit can test for mold in the air or on the surface of furniture, floors, or walls. Surface tests consist of swabs and tape strips, while air tests are done with an air pump or a petri dish.
When conducting a test for the presence of mold, mildew, lead, radon, or any other potentially harmful contaminants in a home, the tests need to be accurate; otherwise, there really isn’t a point. An inaccurate test is about as helpful as guessing. Swabs and tape strips are a good choice that can quickly gather a sample from the floor, walls, or any other surface in the home; however, these tests can be susceptible to contamination and false results if there are other substances on the tested surface.
Petri dishes keep the test isolated from the surface of the table or counter, but if they are left open for too long, airborne contaminants can affect the results. The most accurate test is an air pump because it pulls the air in without having to wait and it never comes in contact with potentially contaminated surfaces in the home. Sending each test to a lab will achieve more accurate results than users would be able to discern at home.
After testing for mold using a swab or a petri dish test, users may be able to get results in just a few days. The kit can give identification instructions for determining whether mold is growing in the home, but this isn’t the most accurate way to test for mold unless you or someone you know has professional lab experience and explicit knowledge about how to detect and identify mold and mold spores.
Air pump and tape strip mold test kits typically need to be sent to a lab, and even if the DIY user has personal knowledge and expertise, a professional lab likely has better equipment, so it’s best to send swab and petri dish samples away for the most accurate results. However, it can take between 3 days and 4 weeks to be contacted with the outcome of the test, depending on mail delivery options, location of the lab, and processing times.
The purpose of an at-home mold test kit is to allow the average person to test their home for mold with a simple, intuitive kit that isn’t difficult to use. Typically, a mold test consists of taking a surface or an air sample, then either checking the results yourself or sending the sample to a professional lab for testing, which then mails the results back.
Keep the home safe from lingering and spreading mold spores by testing and treating mold problems. For more information on mold test kits, such as how they work and whether these kits expire, read below to get answers to these questions and several additional commonly asked questions about the best mold test kits.
In general, mold test kits collect samples from either the air or a surface in the home. The sample is then checked by the user or sent to a lab for results that will be emailed within a period of 3 days to 4 weeks, depending on several different factors, such as the location of the lab and the mail transit timeline.
Most mold test kits don’t have an expiration date; however, it’s advised to use new test kits to reduce the chance of contaminated results because the chemicals in test strips, swabs, and petri dishes can degrade over time.
Settling plates or petri dishes are good for identifying the presence of mold, but not the type or severity of the issue. After using a petri dish mold test and finding mold on the dish, consider getting an on-site assessment from a professional mold removal company before treating for mold.
After cleaning up mold growth and making infrastructure repairs to prevent recurring mold issues, use a home mold test kit to determine if it worked and that the home is now free of mold. If you still aren’t confident after using this method, you may want to have an on-site assessment from a professional mold removal company.
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